MORE NOW ON THAT SHELTER. REPORTER. NEARLY SEVEN DECADES SINCE IT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, TODAY, SAINT MARY’S COMMUNITY CENTER PROVIDES SHELTER, FOOD AND OTHER SERVICES TO STOCKTON’S UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. BUT THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR FAMILIES SEEKING SHELTER. FAMILIES ARE THE CURRENTLY THE ONLY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WE’VE BEEN HAVING TO TURN AWAY FROM SERVICES. OUR FAMILY SHELTER IS FULL AND SO WE’VE GOT A WAITING LIST AND WE’LL BE GLAD WHEN THIS OPENS. SO WE’LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM WITH THE SHELTERS. 28 FAMILY ROOMS AT FULL CAPACITY, THE NEXT BEST SOLUTION WAS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW NAVIGATION CENTER TO DOUBLE THE ABILITY TO SERVE FAMILIES IN STOCKTON. IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO PROVIDE HOPE, HEALING, AND RESTORATION FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF STOCKTON. CAROL AND HENRY SNYDER NAVIGATION CENTER WILL HOUSE 17 FAMILIES ONCE COMPLETED AND FURNISHED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES THAT ARE ON TOUGH TIMES AND NEED SHELTER AND NEED A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, ESPECIALLY OUT OUT OF THE COLD ELEMENTS LIKE WE’RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. HAVE A PLACE TO GO. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE EXITS AS WELL. THIS PROJECT. STOCKTON MAYOR KEVIN LINCOLN SAYS THE CENTER’S FOCUS IS TRANSITIONING FAMILIES OUT OF HOMELESSNESS FOR GOOD. THIS PROJECT AND THESE SERVICES EXTEND JUST BEYOND PROVIDING A ROOF, BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE PERMANENT, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AS OPPOSED TO TEMPORARY SHELTER HOUSING. TWO ONE WAY. THE CENTER IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN BY THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 2025. IN STOCKTON, MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. WELL, THE PATHWAYS PROJECT IS ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT LOCATION WIL